Work Begins on the Newport Pell Bridge

Traveling on the Newport Pell Bridge will definitely require patience starting May 15 with one lane of travel in each direction. Vehicles with a width exceeding 8 feet 6 inches will be prohibited from crossing the bridge from May 15 through the end of June and again from September 19 through December. Vehicles with a Gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 80,000 pounds will be prohibited from crossing the bridge May 15 through December.

The first phase of the multi-year project will be the replacement of the concrete deck and existing steel bearings. During July and August, work will begin under the bridge with no permanent lane closures during the busiest two months of the year. All lanes will remain open during Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The deck work will start again on September 19 and will continue through December. “We understand this project will impact motorists, and we are going to do our best to mitigate traffic issues” said Buddy Croft, RITBA Executive Director. Eric Offenberg, RITBA Director of Engineering stated, “when the bridge was constructed in 1969, the deck was expected to last thirty years, however, due to constant attention and maintenance, we have preserved it for nearly fifty years. This deck project is prudent in continuing our mission to preserve the life expectancy of the bridge and keeping our motoring public safe.”